At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

4 nights hotels, including 2 nights guaranteed in Old Havana, 3 nights Casas Particulares. All hotels are en suite and some have swimming pools

Travel by comfortable air-conditioned private coach

Some long journeys

Soak up Cuba's intoxicating salsa beats

Experience the best of Cuba’s beaches, cigars and ‘50s cars! Savour every taste of Cuba, from the expertly mixed mojitos to the traditional cuisine. In Vinales Valley, with its picturesque limestone karsts, the smell of cigars hangs in the air as we learn how Cuba's finest exports are carefully rolled by hand. Latin rhythms permeate the streets leaving our feet tapping - the perfect introduction to Cuban salsa. Practice all week and then perfect your moves in a salsa lesson with a local dance partner, a farewell night out to remember in vibrant Havana!

Itinerary

Show detailed itinerary

1Day 1Start Havana.

We arrive in Havana and transfer to our start hotel. Land only clients will meet the group at the hotel in Havana.

Today we travel to Vinales Valley, in the west of Cuba. Famous for its rolling tobacco plantations and collection of limestone karsts dotted along the valley, it's not hard to see why Vinales was awarded UNESCO World Heritage site status. A local guide will take us for a light trek through the 'Valley of Silence' where we will be able to take in some of the enchanting countryside found in this beautiful area. We'll see rural Cuban life as farmers tend to their crops using traditional farming methods. After checking into our overnight accommodation in Casa Particulares, we will visit an organic farm in the hills of Vinales for a sunset dinner overlooking the valley.See more images and videos

3Day 3To Cienfuegos via the Bay of Pigs.

This morning we set off on a fairly long drive eastwards to Cienfuegos, stopping along the way for a swim in the Caribbean. Early afternoon we'll arrive at The Bay of Pigs, site of the failed US invasion in 1961. In Cienfuegos we have time to admire the main square and restored municipal buildings before checking into our hotel for the night.See more images and videos

4Day 4To Trinidad.

This morning we'll continue to enjoy Cienfuegos including a visit to a cigar factory to learn about one of the Island's most famous exports. We then continue by taking a short drive down the coast to Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 and perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island. Exploring Trinidad can feel like entering a time warp, its colourful, cobbled streets and horse drawn transportation whisking us back. There are many interesting museums housed in old colonial buildings and music drifts through the streets and plazas, bringing the town to life. We'll stay overnight in charming Casa Particulares, private Bed and Breakfast accommodation in local Cuban houses. This evening we recommend a visit to Trinidad's Casa de la Trova (the famous 'House of Music') for traditional Cuban music and dancing.

Today is free to soak up the atmosphere of Trinidad, simply relax, or join an optional excursion to explore the surrounding areas. We offer the option to join a Catamaran trip, embarking from the beach of Playa Ancon and sailing the Caribbean to the small island of Cayo Macho (or Cayo Blanco depending on availability) to lunch on fresh seafood amongst tame iguanas and tree rats. Alternatively you can walk the 'El Cubano' trail in the nearby national park or join a horse-riding excursion.See more images and videos

6Day 6To Che Guevara's Mausoleum in Santa Clara; to Havana.

Leaving Trinidad we head inland to Santa Clara, the site of the last battle of the Cuban Revolution in December 1958, just before Fidel Castro took Havana. Che Guevara and his troops ambushed an armoured train carrying arms to Santiago de Cuba and this was a major turning point in the Revolution. We visit the armoured train museum and the Mausoleum of Che Guevara and his comrades who died in Bolivia before driving back to Havana. An optional trip to either the Parisien or Tropicana Cabaret is available this evening.

This morning we set off for a city tour of old and new Havana, Cuba's capital and the largest city in the Caribbean. Havana is a busy, bustling, energetic capital. The area of Old Havana is often described as a living museum, with its marvellous monuments, cathedrals and palaces. This is the finest surviving Spanish colonial complex in the Americas. Preserved by a combination of minimal war damage, post-revolution restoration work and the millions of dollars invested since it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982. During our tour we also visit the glitzier Miramar district and the Plaza de la Revolution with its images of the Cuban Revolution. We'll stop for lunch at one of Hemingway's old haunts, La Bodeguita del Medio, where traditional food, drink and music give us a typically warm Cuban welcome. In the early evening we will have a demonstration on how to make the perfect Mojito! With a cocktail to loosen us up we take our salsa class. Salsa is integral to the Cuban way of life and during this lesson, where each person will be partnered with a local Cuban, we get the opportunity to perfect some of the basic moves for our final night in Havana.See more images and videos

8Day 8Free morning; End.

This morning is free to relax or do some last minute sightseeing in Havana's old town before those on group flights transfer to the airport in the afternoon.See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You are healthy, enjoy the outdoors and want a relaxing trip. No experience is required.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 2 lunch, 2 dinners

All accommodation

London flights (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation - GBP130 (not valid during the Christmas period)

Accommodation details

Hotels

You will spend 4 nights in comfortable hotels and 3 nights in privately-run B&B style 'Casas Particulares'. All rooms are en suite and most hotels have swimming pools. Please note that tourism in Cuba is in its infancy, power cuts occur, and hot water supplies are not always guaranteed.

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
British and most Western European passport holders do not require a visa but do require a tourist card. Your Cuban tourist card (valid for 30 days) is included and will be posted to you by Exodus approx. 6 weeks before travel. We will send instructions on how to fill it in but please be careful doing this as any mistakes may result in you having to purchase a new card at a cost of GBP15.00 per person.
We will send a tourist card free of charge as long as you live at a UK or Ireland address and are national of an EU country, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan. If you are not national of one of these countries or are not resident in the UK or Eire you must contact your nearest Cuban Consulate to check what visa is required - Exodus cannot provide a tourist card for you.
The Cuban entry immigration is time consuming and most visitors encounter delays when queuing for entry into the country.
The Cuban Government passed a law stating that all tourists visiting Cuba must have travel insurance to cover medical costs. You are likely to be asked to provide proof of your travel insurance policy when you arrive at Havana airport, so please ensure your documents are easily accessible.
Whilst we hope that things will change in the near future, due to present US policy, we cannot take US citizens on our trips to Cuba.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Hepatitis A. We are advised that there is no risk of malaria. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

This is a relaxed itinerary where we travel in the comfort of a private air-conditioned coach. Journey times are kept to a minimum where possible. The longest journey on this trip is 5 hours on day 6. You may, however, experience some longer journeys depending on traffic and other conditions, as roads can be potholed in places.
Cuba is an increasingly popular tourist destination and unfortunately the number of hotel rooms is not increasing at the same rate. In peak season, hotels occasionally cancel bookings at the last minute and will then find alternative accommodation for the group. In extreme cases bookings may be transferred to hotels in nearby towns or to Casa Particulares (private houses that offer a Bed and Breakfast service). This overbooking is affecting all tour operators to the country and you need to be aware that it may affect your trip. In the event of such a change we will endeavour to ensure a property of the same standard is used to minimise disruption.

If you require a single room then we encourage you to book early in order to avoid disappointment. It is not possible for us to change twin-share rooms for single rooms once you have arrived in Cuba

Eating & drinking

Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence and some ingredients are just not possible to get hold of (due in no small part to the long trade embargo implemented by the US). As such, flavours tend to be relatively simple, with most mealtimes consisting of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad/vegetables. Seafood is widely available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster! Vegetarians will probably find they have the most limited choice. Snack food is not freely available in Cuba so you may wish to consider taking some with you.
Paladares are likely to be a highlight of any visit to Cuba - they are one of the few types of private enterprise allowed (although still heavily regulated), where families are allowed to set up a restaurant in their own house selling authentic, Cuban food. The atmosphere this creates and opportunity to integrate with local Cubans will no doubt enhance your stay! The hotel that we use in Trinidad includes evening meals for all guests, however, Trinidad is a great place to experience a local paladar or state run restaurant. There will be the option to do this (at your own expense) rather than eating at the hotel.
We recommend that you allow CUC 30 pp per day for the lunches and evening meals on the days where food is not included. You may also spend money on bottled water, which will normally cost about CUC 1.50 per bottle if bought from the coach (less if you purchase from local shops).

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

The dry season runs from November through to April (with December to March being the peak holiday months for traditional style tourism). It can be humid between May and October, with heavy rains at times and the possibility of hurricanes. July and August are some of the most popular months to visit Cuba by sun-seekers from Europe and Canada but can be hot (average 28degC) and wet. Cuba has an average of 6 hours sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62%. Water temperature normally ranges from 24 to 28degC.

Gallery

Reviews & community

This is an excellent trip to see the basics of a country that is changing rapidly

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Watching and joining in with the Buena Vista Social Club on Christmas Day. Really learning a lot about Cuba. Feeling the change that is coming to this country.

What did you think of your group leader?

She was excellent, got involved with the group and didn't shy away from questions about how it really was.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

We spent about £150 each. Money changing was easy. Two booths outside the terminal we arrived at. The food was OK, the best was local food in vinales. Shame that isn't what you get everywhere. Take loads of photos, this country will change massively once the Castros are gone. Capitalism is coming!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The casa was the best accommodation. The hotels are a bit run down as we expected. All in all this was a great holiday and if you are thinking if going, go now. We had an excellent group as well, one of the best on a trip like this.

After studying travel and tourism, Kim moved to Dubai to help sell luxury properties on the famous Palm Jumeriah. From here she moved to Madrid, and spent a year teaching English to school children. Struggling to settle back in to normal life, she hopped on a plane, and enjoyed 6 months in India, China and Southeast Asia. Kim now looks after all our clients booked to travel to the Polar Regions, and is just back (July 2010) from 10 days spotting polar bears in Spitzbergen.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Any nightlife tips for Havana?

Havana has a great bar called El Floridita, which was a regular drinking spot for author Ernest Hemingway. I definitely recommend trying a strawberry daiquiri or two!Another excellent bar is the Casa de la Música for a salsa show in Trindad. The live music and local dancing will conjure up images of the Buena Vista Social Club, with its lively and fast-paced jazz, rumba and salsa. Be prepared to dance!

Sophie Ashworth - Marketing

Any Cuban shopping tips?

Souvenirs are available at all major cities and towns in Cuba. They range from wooden handicrafts, local paintings to the classic Cuban Cigar.Havana has a souvenir market on a Thursday afternoon, which is great for local artists showcasing their work, however Trinidad seem to have the better quality souvenirs, especially of the hand carved variety. I would recommend Cienfuegos as the place to buy your cigars!

Dan Cockburn - Product Manager

What is the food like in Cuba?

Food in Cuba consists mostly of rice, fish, meat, beans and plenty of fresh fruit. You can't go to Cuba without trying the famous Mohijo or Cuba Libre, but beware that they don't use measuring glasses so they might be stronger than the ones you have tried at home! Fresh lobster served with salad is also a lovely treat if you visit the island of Cayo Macho. There is also plenty of safe bottled water available throughout Cuba.

Karol Rogacki - Customer Operations

What clothing is best for this part of the Americas?

It can get hot and sweaty here at times, so lightweight cotton (or quick-drying fabrics) is best as a starting point! Long sleeved shirts and trousers will help prevent mosquito bites, especially in the evenings when they could be buzzing around. You should also take a jacket and/or sweater for evenings, as it will cool down. Essential kit includes some sunglasses and a sunhat, along with good sunscreen. A lightweight waterproof jacket or rain poncho is optional, as you can get some tropical rain here now and again!

Karol Rogacki - Americas Operations

Tips from staff who have been to Cuba

MoneyIt's very easy to exchange money in Cuba as long as you have cash. I took sterling cash. You can exchange some money on arrival at the airport (maybe £100) or at the start hotel. Then you can exchange a bit more later on once you are about to run out of pesos. Most hotels (if not all) have exchange facilities and it won't take more than a minute to exchange cash. Some places will also accept credit cards (not debit ones though; credit cards can't be issues by an American bank).

Don't count on ATMs. There are a few in Havana, plus in other big cities but you'll spend some time walking around looking for them. It's best to take Sterling in £10 or £20 notes (not £50). If you have some spare CAD or euro you want to get rid of you can take it too.

Please see below average prices in Cuba - that should help you estimate the amount of money you are likely to spend.

Please remember to take extra money to cover the airport tax (25 CUC), tips and optional trips (prices in the Trip Notes).

Tips for keeping it safe? Just apply the same criteria you would at home, it's more common sense. Cuba isn't a dangerous or threathening place, and crime against tourists (and in general) is very rare. Most hotels have safety deposits and also most hotels have money exchange facilities.

TippingTipping is pretty much like here, for anything small if you like to give something. In better restuarants they'll add it to the bill, like here as well.

Optional activitiesAny of the optional activities are decide locally and booked locally, so no need to do anything in advance.

Electrical equipmentI took a Universal Adaptor, which fits all plug types, and can be bought from Boots or similar for less than a tenner.

As far as I know you can easily take most electrical items into Cuba apart from GPS units. Officially it applies to all GPS' but in fact it more to do with stand-alone units and not the ones that are built in in a phone or a watch. In the worst case they would confiscate such an item on your arrival and give it back to you on your departure (most likely you'd need to pay some fee for storage). I have never come across anyone who specifically has had something removed, but I'm sure something like an iPhone or iPad would be ok.

Gifts for local peopleAnything like pens, crayons, colouring books are always appreciated. They also quite like any toiletries you don't want at the end of a trip, as these are quite hard to come by there, so shower gels, toothpaste, make up etc. Sounds odd, but it was really appreciated, and wasn't something I hadn't heard about before. It wasn't anything threatening, but you could have someone just tap you on the shoulder in the middle of a city tour and ask for shampoo or toothpaste! It was mainly older and young people, and always very friendly. We collected the toiletries from the hotels and at the end of the tour just stood outside and had people swarm around to grab what we had!

LaundryI'm sure it's possible in the hotels where you stay two nights, although people in our group washed their own things. I think laundry can be expensive.

SnacksI would advise maybe taking some snacks like chocolate and biscuits from home, if you like those, as they can be limited in places.

Cubans are pretty eager to speak to tourists. If your Spanish is not too bad I'm sure you can have some nice conversations with them however if you only speak basic Spanish Cubans who speak English would probably want to switch to English. English in Cuba is spoken relatively widely.

Rachael Stone - Customer Services

Cuba articles

Lucy Davies, our Base Manager in Cuba, has written an article where she takes you through a brief history of Cuba, old and new!

Also, staff member Sophie Ashworth travelled to Cuba recently and you can read her article here to get a personal viewpoint of the country.

What do I do about money when I arrive in Havana?

Cuba unfortunately has very few ATM machines, making it slightly more difficult to manage your money supply while in Cuba. Cuba has dual currency system: Cuban Peso (CUP; it's unlikely you will ever need it) and Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC; the one tourists always use). It's best to take all spending money in Sterling cash (Euro or Canadian dollars will also be fine), which can be easily exchanged upon arrival in Cuba. Travellers cheques are accepted at major banks but incur a 5% commission, and some smaller outlets cannot accept them. Also, along with credit cards, they must have no association with an American bank i.e. Virgin Credit Card or American Express travellers cheques, as they will not be accepted anywhere in Cuba.

Sophie Ashworth - Marketing

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Dates & prices

This trip is not available in this country

Trip Extension: If you would like to relax on a beautiful beach at Cayo Levisa or spend more time in charming Havana then it is possible to extend your trip. For more details please refer to our Trip Notes. Alternatively you can call our Sales team who will be happy to assist you.

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